Pre-Pharmacy Requirements

The Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) degree requires six years of academic study. The two year Pre-Pharmacy course requirements can be completed at any accredited two or four-year college.

The KU Pre-Pharmacy course requirements total a minimum of 68 credit hours which includes 53 credit hours of required coursework and 15 credit hours of general studies electives. Required courses include two semesters of English; two semesters of general chemistry; two semesters of organic chemistry; molecular and cellular biology; human anatomy; human physiology; microbiology; calculus; statistics; and, a course that will satisfy the communication requirement and KU Core degree requirement for Goal 2, Outcome 2 (see the Pre-Pharmacy curriculum). A course in physics may also be required (a grade of B or higher in high school physics will satisfy the physics requirement). All laboratory components of required Pre-Pharmacy chemistry and biology courses must be completed on campus and in the laboratory. No virtual simulation or off-site laboratory courses are accepted. Grades earned in all Pre-Pharmacy coursework must be at a ‘C’ level grade or higher. See Pre-Pharmacy curriculum for more information.

All degree programs at KU require degree candidates to complete sufficient course work to satisfy the KU Core degree requirement which is comprised of six educational Goals and Outcomes. The KU Core is designed to lead to development of fundamental skills and strengthen appreciation of cultural and global diversity and cultivate ethical integrity in graduates. Detailed information about the KU Core and a complete listing of courses available for each Goal and Outcome can be found at the KU Core website.

Students enrolled at an institution other than KU can determine if coursework at their institution will transfer to KU as equivalent to the KU Pre-Pharmacy course requirement by use of the KU CredTran system, CredTran will also indicate if the course satisfies a KU Core Goal and Outcome. CredTran is a comprehensive, but not all inclusive, listing of courses for all institutions. You may also submit an email inquiry to the KU School of Pharmacy (pharmacy@ku.edu) for assessment of potential course transfer equivalency and/or KU Core compliance.

Activity courses in physical education or the arts (music, theater, etc.) may not count toward satisfying degree requirements. Some courses in foreign language may be credited toward satisfying general studies and KU Core requirements, but are limited to six credit hours toward degree credit hour requirements. A maximum of 6 credit hours of specific military science requirements may be counted toward degree credit hour requirements. Courses in other professional schools such as engineering, nursing, and education, etc. may not be counted toward the degree credit hour requirement unless it can be demonstrated that such courses are directly applicable to pharmacy. For example, a course in business law would count toward the general studies requirement. However, while such courses as noted herein may be credited toward general studies and degree credit hour requirements the majority of examples in the aforementioned will not satisfy KU Core degree requirements.

Pre-Pharmacy Curriculum Requirement Change for Fall 2019 Applicants: Pre-Pharmacy course requirements for individuals seeking admission to the KU School of Pharmacy for the 2019 fall semester have been revised. Completion of Physics 114 at KU, or an equivalent transfer course, will be a required Pre-Pharmacy course requirement for all individuals admitted to our program for the fall 2019 semester.

The minimum total of Pre-Pharmacy course requirements will remain at 68 credit hours which will include 56 credit hours of required coursework and 12 credit hours of general studies electives. Required courses include two semesters of English; two semesters of general chemistry; two semesters of organic chemistry; molecular and cellular biology; human anatomy; human physiology; microbiology; calculus; statistics; a course that will satisfy the communication requirement and KU Core degree requirements for Goal 2, Outcome 2 of the KU Core (the KU Core requirements have been addressed previously in this section); and, a college physics course equivalent to Physics 114 at KU. The Physics course will satisfy KU Core Goal 1, Outcome 1, Critical Thinking.

All other Pre-Pharmacy requirements remain the same as for fall 2018 applicants.